2002 - In a rather cynical move‚ the Yankees offer the same two-year $4.6 million contract to three lefty relievers - Mike Stanton ‚ Mark Guthrie and Chris Hammond - and give each 15 minutes to decide. Hammond‚ 37‚ signs for $4.8 million over two years. Hammond‚ out of baseball for two years‚ had a remarkable season in 2002‚ posting a 0.95 ERA in 63 games and did not allow an earned run after June 28th. He is the third pitcher since 1900 to post a sub-one ERA while pitching 70+ innings.
